SS- Chapter 12

Chapter 12

“Surprise!!!”

“Omo!” Bom exclaimed and hid her face in her hands for a moment, obviously pleased by our welcome party. She came back from Seoul yesterday with her parents and I and my Mom fetched them from the airport.

There were hugs all around and no one commented on the fact that Bom looked so pale and lost a lot of weight. Everyone focused on the obvious that she’s wearing a huge bandanna and she’s rocking the bohemian look with her pretty big eyes.

My hair is old news now although it did set a commotion when I reported for school three weeks ago. Almost everyone thought I was crazy to have a bansak hairstyle at first but later on, I started getting compliments that it looked cool and fierce.

Bom expectedly was surprised and hugged me tightly when I showed her. I need not explain the reason why I did it. She knew. What are best friends for, right?

So here we are at the surprise welcome party that Chaerin, Minzy and I planned. We rented a noraebang and invited our close friends. I got Bom’s parents’ permission to stay out late and let her sleep over at our house. I was actually surprised that they did, thinking that they’ll be extra protective of Bom knowing that the operation didn’t go well but I guess they were serious when they said they were going to pretend that it did and not worry Bom.

Mood maker Seungri started off dancing and singing and everyone pretty soon followed the merriment. It was like nothing was wrong at all and we were just high school kids again. I really tried to set my mind with no worries like cancer and brain tumor and dying.

Bom was in her element. Singing is her forte. Sickness did not affect her voice and she was singing as beautifully as ever.

Seunghyun arrived in the middle of Bom and Taeyang’s Troublemaker duet. He was carrying a bunch of wildflowers and timidly handed them to Bom saying that he was glad that she’s okay now.

Bom was flustered and acted coy but definitely happy. “Awww, you didn’t have to,” she said.

“I noticed that you liked the flowers the last time so …” Seunghyun trailed, lightly scratching his nape with his right hand.

I have to admit. I felt a little bit of jealousy. Seungyun has never given me a single flower. Sure, we went out on a date but it could’ve been nice if he gave me even if it was just a teeny weeny one.

Taeyang then invited Seunghyun to sing but he declined saying that he was tone deaf. He gave me a little smile and sat with the guys while us girls stayed at the left side of the room. It became rowdy after a couple of hours. Since we were all juveniles and were not allowed to drink, we all pretended that the different colas and root beers were making us drunk silly. Seungri and Taeyang were pretty hilarious.

After their drunken act of singing FUN’s “We Are Young”, we asked Bom to sing one last time before we ended the night. She graciously obliged and asked for everyone’s cooperation. She picked Avril Lavigne’s “Here’s to Never Growing Up”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXd2WxoOP5g

Bom even stood in the middle of the low table as her stage and we all pretended that it was her concert and we were her fans supporting and clapping for her. Seeing her in her element, she has never looked more beautiful. The rest of us sang along with her and even waved our hands in the air. It was a magical but a bittersweet moment.

I couldn’t help but think that life is unfair. We are young. Our lives have just begun. We haven’t even started living out our dreams …

Bom was singing the lyrics and they were so apt:

“Say, oh just say forever, stay

If you stay forever, hey

We can stay forever young…”

We were all singing at the top of our lungs. I wish we are never growing up.

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A couple of weeks have passed since the party and everyone at school is now busy with the upcoming Christmas Ball.

It’s the grandest event that we celebrate at school and there’s a palpable excitement in the air as boys and girls are all antsy on who’s going with whom and if you’re going to be asked out by someone you like or not.

Last year, Bom and I were each other’s dates. We were both heartbroken during that time since both of our crushes who were Seniors were going with their girlfriends.

This year, I’ve already been asked out twice but I have declined both of them. One was from a Sophomore whose name was Chanyeol, I think, and another just now, from a Junior whose name was Kris.

“That was harsh,” said a voice behind me.

“No, I wasn’t” I defended, recognizing who the voice belonged to.

“Don’t you have plans on going or you already have a date?”

I flushed. My heart has a wish but I don’t know if it will come true.

“Actually,” I answered after a while, “I’m hoping that I’ll go if …”

“If …?” he prodded.

I couldn’t say it due to embarrassment.

“You’re waiting for someone.” Joongki stated, as a matter of fact. “Does he know that you’re waiting for him?”

I sighed. I shook my head. “I don’t know.”

“Well he’s an idiot.”

“Hey!”

“Well, he is. How can he not ask you out?” Joongki looked affronted on my behalf and I felt his sincerity that I immediately felt like confiding. I haven’t even talked to my girl friends about it and Bom was feeling weak the past couple of days that I think that mentioning the ball will be a bit inconsiderate since she may not be able to attend.

“Ugh” I dramatically sighed. “I know right? I mean I even mentioned the ball to him twice dropping hints but he must be the densest guy I’ve ever met, it’s so frustrating!” I ranted.

“Said the girl who isn’t dense” Joongki muttered.

“Huh?” I asked.

“Nothing,” he said. “I was saying how can he be so dense? You must not have made it obvious.”

“Of course, I didn’t. I didn’t want him to think that I was desperate for him to ask me.”

“What if he didn’t?”

I raised my eyebrows questioningly at him. I haven’t entertained that possibility yet. I didn’t want to think about it, truthfully.

“What if in the event that he didn’t ask you” Joongki was facing me, all serious. “Will you ask him instead?”

I don’t know. I really don’t know. I don’t think I can but I certainly want to. I groaned. “Let’s not think about that.”

“How about you?” I asked him, changing the subject. “Have you asked anyone?”

“I wanted to…”

“And…?”

“I think I’ll get rejected” he sighed sadly.

“You’ll never know until you tried, you know.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know…” he gave me a regretful look before walking away. “Let me know how it goes for you and maybe I’ll get to ask the girl I like.”

“Sure thing.” I waved goodbye.

***********************************

School ended three hours ago but we’re still inside the school auditorium. We just had our first formal rehearsal for the play come February. Joongki was an exceptional actor and so was everybody in the cast. Chaerin and her team are almost done with the costumes as well as Seungri and the design team with the props.

Everything was going well and we were all satisfied with how the play is coming along.

“Chae!” I called. “Mind giving me a ride?” We are now preparing to leave.

She looked at someone beyond me. I looked back and it was Seunghyun with Seungri who is chatting animatedly.

I turned to look at Chaerin again, waiting for her answer.

“Uhhh … don’t you have one already?” She then pointed at Seunghyun with her stare.

I rolled my eyes. “No.”

“Ooh… are you having a lover’s quarrel?”

I jerkily wore my jacket and picked up my backpack next.  “First, we are not lovers. Second, we are not quarrelling.”

“Tell me what happened” Chaerin said conspiratorially.

“Nothing.”

And really, nothing was what happened.

The Christmas Ball is in two weeks and Seunghyun hasn’t asked me yet. Getting frustrated, I asked him yesterday if he has plans of going and he said “None.” And that was that. I haven’t spoken to him since.

I waited in vain. I wanted to tear my hair out in frustration. I felt somehow rejected. Didn’t he want to take me out as his date? I mean, it will be the official thingy, you know? So far, no one in the school knows that we visit each other’s houses or that we went out on a date or that we send each other messages when we wake up or go to sleep. Am I just the one who wanted to take whatever this thing that we have to the next level? He is so frustrating.

Chaerin must have sensed my mood because she lost that playful look in her eyes. “Well, when you’re ready to talk about it just let me know” she said. “And, I’m sorry but I can’t give you a ride. My family’s going out to dinner. Mian.”

“Oh, it’s okay.” I touched her arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Have fun.” I smiled.

“I can take you home.” Joongki suddenly materialized.

“Are you sure? It’s out of your way …”

He waved my concern away. “It’s fine. Besides, it’s already dark outside. I’ll feel better knowing you’ve arrived home safely.”

“Gee, thanks Joongki-ah.”

“Let’s go?” He then grabbed my back pack from me and started walking.

“Hey, wait!” I walked fast to catch him. “I can carry that,” attempting to steal my bag away. He placed it on his other hand before I could reach it.

“It’s fine.” He said happily.

“Okay. I owe you one.” I placed both my hands in my jacket’s pocket but he reached and pulled them out with his free hand. “Don’t walk with your hands in your pocket. It rained earlier so the ground’s a little slippery. You might accidentally slip” he warned.

I met his smile with one of my own. “Thanks.” I said. We are near the parking lot when I remembered to ask him about his plan of asking the girl he likes to the ball. Joongki is such a great guy. I’m sure the girl will say yes. “So, what happened to your plan of asking out the girl you like?”

He stopped walking for a moment. He didn’t answer but just gave an audible sigh.

“I guess that answers my question” I joked.

He slightly winces. “Yeah…”

“What about you? Has the idiot asked you out?”

“Hey!” I slapped his arm, pretending to be offended. We chuckled.

“So, did he?”

I shook my head.

“Like I said, he’s an idiot.”

“Yeah. Yes, he is.” I agreed.

We reached Joongki’s car and he opened the door for me. As I was settling comfortably on my seat after pinning the seatbelt, I saw Seunghyun beside his Monster looking straight at us. Even after the car moved out of the parking lot, I could see his eyes following us as I looked back at him through the side mirror.

**************************************

It is also part of our school’s tradition to send out flowers to the one you are going to the Christmas Ball with. It’s the Freshmen who take care of this task and they take the orders and deliver the flowers to the girls.

By lunchtime, the booth near the cafeteria where the Freshmen were set up was filled with activity. It seemed like there’ll be a lot of attendees judging by the numbers of boys in two lines, seemingly impatient to make their orders.

Chae, Minzy, Bom and I are on our way to eat our lunch and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Taeyang standing in line almost at the back. I was about to tease Bom because Taeyang has always sent flowers to Bom every year and although he kept saying that it was just a prank, it was an unspoken knowledge amongst us friends that he really had it bad for Bommie.

I was about to open my mouth when I saw the person Taeyang was talking to. It was Seunghyun. Why is he lining up for flowers? He said that he wasn’t going to the dance, right? Did he ask somebody else? I felt an unexpected sharp pain in my chest.

“Are you okay?” Bom asked.

“Y-Yeah …” I’m just really hungry.

“Come,” Bom tugged my arm hurriedly inside the cafeteria. “I heard they have corn soup and corn muffins.”

I really couldn’t eat and sit throughout lunch because my mind kept thinking about the girl that Seunghyun asked to go out with. I completely lost my appetite and felt like crying so I excused myself before my friends could see the tears fall. “I’ll go the ladies room really quick.”

I just finished washing my face with a paper towel when the bathroom door opened with a bang and in comes Bom with the biggest smile on her face. She’s holding a long stemmed red rose and she looked like she’s walking on air with happiness.

“Darong!” she screamed. She then enveloped me in a hug as she danced around me inside the ladies room making the other two students inside scamper away. I think they were scared by Bom who was certainly acting like a lunatic.

Is she this happy to receive a flower from Taeyang?

She handed me the envelope that came with the flower. “Read.” She instructed.

I took out the card inside the envelope and began to read the computer printed letter.

Bommie,

I hate dancing with a passion but the thought of you dancing with someone else is more hateful.

Will you go to the Christmas Ball with me?

Love, Seunghyun

“Kyaahh!!!” Bom screamed after I read the contents of the letter.

“Read it again.” She ordered. I did.

“Read the last part.” Bom was giddy. She was getting teary eyed.

I was, too. But for an entirely different reason. I don’t understand. “Love, Seunghyun.”

“OH MY GOD!” Bom was jumping around excitedly. “He likes me! No, he loves me! Freaking Choi Seunghyun loves me!”

My bestfriend was ecstatic while my heart was breaking.

Before I could think of anything else, I suddenly saw Bom collapsed on the floor. She lost consciousness.

************************************

A/N:

I didn’t get to proofread this as it’s nearly 4AM. I’ll edit it later when I have time.

I was supposed to sleep at 1AM but I felt guilty for not updating so while I still have the inspiration to write, I figured ‘What the hell!’ I’ll just be a zombie at work later. LOL.

Please anticipate the next story arc. Prepare your tissues. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

*bisous*

~mzbookworm4life